Ilkley - Yorkshire - England
Nesfield Road,
Myddleton,
Ilkley,
LS29 0BE,
England
+44 (0) 1943 600214
1 mile N of Ilkley town centre
Welcome, contact in advance
Mark Taylor
Andrew Driver
Championships hosted:
Girls Amateur
Many great golf courses feature water in some shape or form – the Barry and Swilken Burns at Carnoustie and St Andrews, for example – but no course is more influenced by a river than Ilkley Golf Club. River, Bridge, Island and Kingfisher are some of the names of the opening holes. The scene is set from the off – the River Wharfe is dominant for the first seven holes. Founded in 1890, Ilkley is the third oldest golf club in Yorkshire. In those days Ilkley was a nine-hole course, located on Rombald's Moor. Harry Vardon won his first prize as a professional on this course and his brother Tom was an early professional at the club. As golf grew in popularity, the club needed 18 holes and in 1898 work started on a new course alongside the River Wharfe. Today's course is mainly a tribute to the combined architectural skills of Alister MacKenzie and Harry Colt. Ilkley comes with a very high pedigree. “On Ilkley Moor baht 'at” is Yorkshire's unofficial anthem, which is sung to an old Methodist tune. The song tells the story of a lover courting Mary Jane on Ilkley Moor. Mary Jane wasn't wearing her hat, and as all good Yorkshire folk know, you'll catch your death of cold on Ilkley Moor without one. The reason we mention this song is that Ilkley is one of the most beautiful places in the country and if it was pretty enough setting for courting Mary Jane, it's also a perfect setting for golf. Measuring 6,276 yards from the medal tees, Ilkley is no championship challenge, but with a lowly par of 69, it's tougher than it first appears. Colin Montgomerie learnt his trade here and holds the current course record of 64. "Although I have played golf on the finest courses in the world, Ilkley Golf Club will always have a special place in my heart," he said. The course is blessed with many fine holes and the most memorable are the openers adjacent to the river. The 4th, called "Long", is the first of the two par fives and requires a drive over the river's tributary. From the 8th onwards, trees become the principal hazards, but the sheer scenic beauty remains until the very last putt drops. Ilkley is a delight and a must-play course. Mark James (alongside Colin Montgomerie) is also an honorary life member here and we'll let him close: "Nestling in the shelter of the Wharfe Valley, Ilkley is one of the most enjoyable courses in the North of England." How could any serious golfer overlook Ilkley? |
Reviews for Ilkley
Having played Ilkley several times over the years it is always nice to head back there and see how my game and the course has progressed. For me, Ilkley has always lived up to its 'Procul et ingratum' motto but perhaps this is slowly changing. The first holes, running alongside the river are a challenging start, and certainly different to most courses. A plethora of early par 3s certainly doesn't gain points in the course design scoring. The 2 par 5s however are very strong. Once you move away from the river there are some weak holes, No.8 is a quirky dogleg that needs playing a few times to understand it but 9 to 12 are pretty forgettable, merely a way to get from the 8th to the 13th tee. The 13th is probably the strongest of the par 3s, not long, but well bunkered and a fair test of iron play. The 14th is the best hole on the course for me, a beautifully designed dogleg par 4, asking for a well positioned uphill drive, and a solid long 2nd to a green that slopes wickedly from back to front. The closing 4 holes finally bring the views of the Cow and Calf and Ilkley Moor, and give the course a strong finish with tight OOB on 16 and 17 before an 18th spread out and overlooked by the clubhouse.
Despite my earlier comment the pro Andrew was very friendly on our 'beat the pro' challenge on the 15th, hopefully he is a sign that the club is moving forward into the 21st Century.
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from James Hill
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from CHRISTIAN MOLE
A pleasant, well-conditioned parkland layout, the first 7 holes play alongside the River Wharfe, and the rest of the holes are mostly tree lined. The 2nd and 3rd holes are both par 3s which provides a different style of start to what you would normally expect, and indeed there is only one par 4 in the first 6 holes.
The first hole where you turn back for home, the 8th, was a favourite hole, a dog leg right, which goes around trees and has a downhill approach shot. There are some fun par 3s on the back, the downhill 13th and the uphill 15th.
One thing I did notice was a large practice area, that at the moment is basically a glorified field cut down for players to practice. I feel the club could utilise the area and maybe even create a short par 3 course like you see being built at resorts such as Bandon or Pinehurst in America.
It’s a nice spot for a round but there’s not that many interesting holes, and in my opinion players would be better off exploring somewhere like Halifax GC for a fraction of the price.
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from Josh P
If you are playing golf in Yorkshire then a visit to Ilkley is a must. Nestled in the beautiful Wharfe Valley with the famous Ilkley Moor as a backdrop, this is an incredibly picturesque courses in the country.
The River Wharfe is an ever-present threat for the first seven holes of this tree-lined course. I love the fact that you leave the clubhouse and walk a couple of hundred yards to the left to tee off in isolation with no prying eyes. and what a start - par 4, followed by a par 3 to an island green and then another par 3 along the same island before teeing off for the 4th back over the river
And the holes where you head away from the river ( i love the 8th dogleg and the 10th ) are equally enjoyable. and the closing stretch is good and its great to finish with a tee shot over the river wharf (although it shouldn't come into play) help round off a very enjoyable round.
It's a bit off the beaten track but make an effort and go play there
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from Andy Cocker
Ilkley Golf Club is a beautiful parkland course with moderate slopes. I played in the summer of 2017. The distance is a little less than 6,300 yards which is short for today’s standards. The course is par 69 including five par 3s and one par 5. Still it is challenging thanks to relatively tight tree-lined fairways and many strategically placed bunkers. In addition, the river is well utilized on Hole 1-7, 17 & 18. The surrounding views of Yorkshire’s hilly terrain are nice, too.
The 3rd 204-yard par 3 is nestled in a nice location as the river flanks the green. It is a pity that the river is hardly seen due to the thick trees on both sides. I felt that thoughtful removal of the trees is needed to make the river visible off the tee. The 4th 504-yard par 5 is a slight dogleg to the right with the river along the entire left side. Accuracy is needed on both the tee and second shots as the river comes into play on the left and trees on the right. The green is guarded by two bunkers, and slopes slightly from left to right. The club plans to move the green more toward the left river within a couple of years, which I completely agree with. Again, I hope that the trees between the river and green should be removed, and that the green should be moved toward the river as close as possible. Then the hole will become a true risk/reward hole. I would like to come back to play this hole after the nice renovation a few years later. Nevertheless, it is a great hole.
The 18th 418-yard par 4 is a slight dogleg to the left. The tee shot is over a river with two fairway bunkers on the left and trees on the right. The green is vertically narrow with two bunkers on the left and a bunker on the right.
When you are in Yorkshire, I think that Ilkley is a must-play course together with Alwoodley GC and Ganton GC.
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
0 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from Kimi Hoshiyama
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
1 person found this review helpful
See other reviews from Darren

Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
2 people found this review helpful
See other reviews from Aidan Healey
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
1 person found this review helpful
See other reviews from Elliot Newman
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
1 person found this review helpful
See other reviews from Mark Knight
Respond to above review
Was this review helpful?
1 person found this review helpful
See other reviews from philip bell